Stimulants If Adderall IR is no longer effective/consistent, would switching to Vyvanse help?

[crestfallen]

Even though I have been on Adderall IR for 3 years (From 10mg all the way to 60 daily IR and XR), I really only get the noticeable focus and motivation if I dose 1-2x a week(which only last 2-1/2hrs at most). Anymore than that feels like its not working half as good (probably due to depleted neurotransmitters) and comes with more side effects. The problem is that the crash has always been horrific and I can't deal with it anymore (my doc only prescribes 15 .5mg kpin, which doesn't touch it). I still have 1 more year left before I graduate university and I am trying to push through it with the help of these stims. I've always wanted to try dexedrine but no doctor was willing to prescribe it.

My only other option is to try Vyvanse. It is supposed to be smoother, less ups and downs, and have a less noticeable crash w/o the peripheral side effects of the l-amphetamine. I need something that can smoothly help me focus, not tweek me out like addy does and have a softer comedown. Basically something that improves my attention/motivation w/o leaving me an emotional, malnourished, anxious wreck at the end of the day. And being able to sleep would be a major plus (impossible with the adderall). I've tried most other ADD meds save for desoxyn, and I feel Vyvanse could be just what I need. My pdoc is giving me a choice between the regular 30mg Adderall IR( a 3month script) or one 70mg Vyvanse(30 day script) a day. What would you guys recommend? Remember, I'm not looking for a high (those are long gone anyways), I just want to get the consistent focus and motivation for school and work.


Vyvanse

PROS
-Smoother
-Harder to abuse
-Less uncomfortable PNS stimulation
-Softer comedowns
CONS
-Price
-Might feel weak compared to Adderall IR

 

[tricomb]

Why not Dexedrine? Dexedrine is far superior to Adderall, and it's available in generic form (pretty sure Vyvanse is still under patent, not sure though as it's a less-effective version of dexedrine IMO, definitely not worth extra money just to have an enzyme-time-release added to dextro-amp), Dexedrine is vastly cheaper than Vyvanse, and is definitely smoother than Adderall, levoamphetamine is horrible and it's crazy that some people actually enjoy that PNS stimulation. In the end, you should ask your psychiatrist about your options and the pros and cons of each of them.

Is Adderall IR the only medication you've tried for your ADHD? Have you tried taking chelated magnesium with your amphetamines to prevent tolerance and to minimize side effects? I take desoxyn / dextromethamphetamine for my attention issues and although I don't get side effects from it, I still feel like magnesium makes everything smoother in general, and I feel like everyone who's taking any form of amphetamines should be taking magnesium as well. Chelated Magnesium is much more bio-available than most forms of Mg, I take 300mg per day and would strongly recommend you look into it.

 

[crestfallen]

I feel like dexedrine would be perfect but every doctor I've asked has said it is more addictive and they aren't willing to prescribe it. My new psychiatrist said that it could actually cause more anxiety than adderall, yet she recommends vyvanse lol. But she seems more open minded than the other docs so I might have to press dex a little more next time. If that doesn't work than I guess I'll settle with the vyvanse. I can't stand the adderall due to the dirty anxiety inducing pns sides. I've tried ritalin, wellbutrin, strattera, adderall xr, and a few others that did nothing. If I could only find some studies that show d-amphetamine can cause LESS anxiety and/or side effects than d,l-amp, it might convince her to try it. Would you happen to know where I could find anything like that? Thanks for the tips tri

 

[cripkeeper]

I love Vyvanse. Speaking only from my own experience it works better than Addy. It's like they took all the unwanted effects out of adderall and made a near perfect med. I get a great sense of focous and motivation with literally no side effects. I still get the mood lift, in fact for me at least the mood lift has not only not diminished with tolerance but has actually increased. As noted above, it is a very smooth drug. I can feel it coming on and working, have a productive/"normal" day with no crash whatsoever besides being less motivated later in the day.

It gets a bad rap from some for the pro-drug thing, and many seem to feel it's much less potent. There are ways around that however. Taking a few amino acid supplement pills with them with help tremendously. Tums a half hour before dosing also works wonders with the conversion, and of course avoid acidic food/beverages the first few hours after taking.

It is just as abuse able, you just take more if that's your goal. I guess it takes longer to kick in. Just because it's not active when snorted or whatever other ingestion method some do does not mean it's non-abuse able. You just must take some proactive steps, and swallow the pill as it's suppose to be taken.

If cost is an issue your pharmacist can help you locate coupons that will greatly reduce price. In my case, I was able to get on the Shire Cares program, and am getting all my Vyvanse regardless of dose changes or whatever free for one year. If you decide to give Vyvanse a shot, ask your doc and or pharmacist about it.

Hope whatever you decide to do you find what helps you the most. That's the most important thing. Good luck!

 

[stray cat]

too unfocused right now to read through everything (not enough adderall!), but from what i gather skimming, add is only working if u dose a couple days a week now. efficacy decreases if u take it every day.

first off, if effectiveness or "feeling the drug" or whatever is the problem, i do not think that switching to dex would be any better. yes, detroamp is superior in its pure form according to many folks, but it is more subtle than adderall to begin with since it's lacking the l-amp, and you would probably notice it even less.

i would say that vyvanse could potentially be even less effective, as i'm sure you know--i've seen you post on here for a while, so i doubt i have to get into the reasons why. (for anyone else, it essentially is dextroamphetamine with an additional enzyme attached that makes it have to be metabolized befroe it starts working, which supposedly curbs abuse potential--but, realistically, it is dextroamphetamine).

for me, and i've been prescribed an add med since 1992 when i was 12 (i'm currently 34--adderall since i was about 19 in 1998), i hate the way adderall makes me feel when i take it daily. the first day i feel great, then i cant really sleep well that night, and then i just feel shittier and shittier every day i take it after that, ultra dehydrated, muscle cramps, panic attacks until i start drinking, etc. i have not found a stimulant/amphetamine add med that eliminates this problem, so i just choose to only take it when i need it for a project, etc.--like once or twice a week.

sorry i cant be more help.

 

[freehugs]

Vyvance absolutely fucked my sleep and eating schedules. And I tried really, really hard to make it work.

 

[thedood]

when i built up a tolerance to amphetamines i switched to vyvanse and it worked better. theres a weird dose ratio though.. id say aprox. 20 mg amphetamines = 35-40mg vyvanse.

 

[ib_PYRO]

Maybe try focalin. I know you said that you tried ritalin, but was that after the adderall became ineffective? Since it isn't completely cross tolerant you may find it better than Adderall (also contains only a single stereo-isomer). Also, mirtazapine at night is sometimes used to counteract the appetite suppression and help with sleep. Beta blockers plus clonidine (not to be confused with klonopin/clonazapam) can go a long way to reducing the jitteryness, high blood pressure, tense muscles that the adderall gives you (but there will be rebound hypertension/edginess if you take daily and stop). Maybe you could reduce the dose by adding modafinil? Magnesium/b-vitamins may help (adderall can cause deficiencies of these). Desoxyn when taken as directed is much milder in terms of side effects from what I've heard, but good luck getting an rx for that.

I'm pretty sure the l-amphetamine does more than add PNS stimulation, I believe it acts on the CNS by increasing NE release.

Also I have tried switching from vyvanse to Dexedrine for cost but the doc, who was a pretty liberal with Rx's, wouldn't do it b/c of the stigma.

Vyvanse for me is much smoother and more effective than adderall IR/ even XR for me. The patent doesn't expire until 2023 tho, will be interesting to see how shire evergreens the next amphetamine preparation.

 

[tricomb]

Stigma with Dexedrine? It's not exactly Desoxyn...?

 

[China Rider]

talk to your doctor

this has nothing to do with harm reduction

offering pharmcutical effects would be ethically negligent and accepting it would be foolish